REVIEW: COMING 2 AMERICA

 

3.5/5

Coming Back 2 America. 

110 Mins. Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Kiki Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Bella Murphy, John Amos, Wesley Snipes & James Earl Jones. Director: Craig Brewer. 

Trailer Park boys. A long way from a palace of royalty, but what you gonna do? Just before last year, before coronavirsus made cinematic releases fly the coop, 80's legends from the King of stand-up Eddie Murphy, to the King of the late night Arsenio Hall were unknowing trailer neighbors to a pair of 90's icons. Def Comedy Jam stand-up late night showstopper Martin Lawrence and the Freshest Prince of them all, Will Smith. The partners in buddy cop marriage like 'Another 48 Hrs' were filming 'Bad Boys For Life' to complete the trilogy for my generation that came out early last calendar. Murphy and Arsenio? Why after 30 years they were 'Coming 2 America' again. You couldn't turn this photo-op that could break the internet like a Kardashian champagne campaign for Instagram. A showcase of legacy making Black Excellence over the decades in a year were we were reminded Black Lives Matter. All this happened all before 2020 or COVID-19 that dethroned all of us all over the world. Showing us without social distancing or prejudice just how everything was way back when...and way back then. Cinematic classics reminding us of when the late, great Chadwick Boseman (he was still alive long after this point in a year were we already thought we lost so much from our loved ones to the Black Mamba and Mambacita) had us all crossing our chests and screaming "WAKANDA FORVEVER" in what was the endgame of his last stand in this life that we lead right now that feels like we're fighting in an infinity war. But before T'Challa and the kingdom of Marvel's Wakanda, King Eddie Murphy's African land of Zamuda celebrated black royalty in 'Coming To America'. Now over three decades later, coming off a 'Dreamgirls' career turn in Netflix's 'Dolemite Is My Name' that got Oscar snubbed too, Murphy's law is about to go back to his prime with Amazon for the 'Coming 2 America' sequel that's more like coming to Africa for more celebration and coronations of lives that have always mattered. A stunning looking sequel that surviving a few sophomore come veteran slumps is still deliriously funny...if a little raw 'round the edges. 

Prince Akeem is his name and coming to Queens to be the King is his game. In the first comedy classic of the golden era like an Aykroyd 'Trading Places', this young Prince like 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' almost renounced his throne for the one he wanted to be his queeeeeeen...even if no one on the subway gave a s###. Ever since he screamed "YES AMERICA F### YOU" like it was the friendliest gesture in the world, we knew we were going to like this guy with the Magic Johnson megawatt smile, innocent to the bad apples in New York City. Now the 'Beverly Hills Cop' famous face is partnering up with 'Dolemite' director Craig Brewer to bring back the crown as we watch the throne again on our smartphones. Now calling back in 'Nutty Professor' character fashion to the quartet of Sexual Chocolate and the My-T-Sharp barbershop characters, Eddie who has done a lot for us lately is playing all the prosthetic parts like his 'Pink Panther' idol Peter Sellers. It's still one of the sharpest tools in his acting box and reaching into his bag again for his hot chocolate microphone this man's talent as live as Saturday Night SINGS as it tickles our ribs like dusting shaved hair off your neck to be swept up with the rest of the clippings. Dusting off some old brooms, Arsenio who even brought his show back gets in on the act too. Whether it's eating us up in drag or giving R&B soldier Tank's Bishop Cognac or NBA legend Chris Webber's player priest in Kyrie Irving's 'Uncle Drew' a run for his collection plate money. These two go together like dollars and sense, Smith and Lawrence, or Eddie and Danny or Nolte. There's no King without his aid and Arsenio is the comedy Best Supporting Actor gold. Put him in the same Hall of Fame as his late night one. Ain't nothing 'Semmi' about it. The royal penises are clean your highness. 

Ludicrous King s### need all the Kings men and this has one royal family you can like right now. Full of jewels of cameos in the crown we won't spoil (but how about having your funeral narrated by the man who was born to be the voice-over commentator of our lives?) except the place used here was actually filmed in the Port of Miami (now you know why they met those 'Bad Boys' too) of Boss rapper Rick Ross' mansion on the hill. Even though we wish we would have another stick up from Samuel L. Jackson. I mean the L (that stands for "legend" in our eyes) really is in everything, but not this again? Another Legend is in the form of John fresh off his 'Bigger Love' and 'Conversations In The Dark' who gives us not just the new 'Coming 2 America' theme, but a post-credits Zoomed 'She's Your Queen' live performance in the most perfect, holy ghost highest note that shows his falsetto is as flawless as his tinkling of the ivorys. Still in an all-star class cast we have plenty on hand here to kiss the ring all the way to the top of the throne in Mufasa King of Kings, James Earl Jones, whose character is still a bed-ridden lion when it comes to the laughs. Hear Vader growl like a sabre for the sceptre. But it's the woman who really roar in a film that stands in solidarity with the womens movement as much as it does the Black Lives Matter one that marches like a million men...and women. First there's Murphy's Queen. Yes Lisa! 'The Preachers Wife' star Shari Headley looks and more importantly is better than ever on her own agency. BESIDE every great man is a woman...and beside every great woman is a man too. Even Eddie's daughter Bella Murphy brings it in a breakthrough performance. But it's criminally underrated like her breakout movie 'If Beale Street Could Talk' amazing actress Kiki Layne with a name fit for the stars or walk of fame that really delivers here (whilst her on-screen sister Teyonah Parris does breaking the sitcom screen fourth wall and barriers of 'WandaVision') on the notion that the throne should know no gender, but just greatness. She's all that. Even if the 'Superior Donuts' of Jermaine Fowler are the bag of potato chips. The young Prince who sing along to the tribal remix of the purple ones 'Sexy M.F' is on his own ascent from the Oscar worthy 'Judas and the Black Messiah', to the Marvel world of the forthcoming 'Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur'. Duetting in maybe matrimony with the Kanye 'Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' choreography and Iman Shumpert reality of VH1 star Teyana Taylor and its a wrap. But for all the new royal blood, how about the legendary subjects? Still standing and flooring them like a mic drop Tracy Morgan gets the laughs and licks in. Yet it's great 'Ghostbusters' star Leslie Jones who is absolutely on fire. Almost too in the worst of places as she does her best Erykah Badu candle trick that could put Gwyneth Paltrow's out of business. Even the 'Good Times' of 'Roots' legend John Amos-who over the decades has graced his greatness from everything from situation comedy (how about Will Smith's hilarious break-up with him in 'The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air'), to the situation room (with the dramatic chops aside the Sheen of Presidency in 'The West Wing')-is back. Going for a billion served with McDowell's coming to Africa in a worldwide flurry. Still, its a sharpshooting Wesley Snipes with a kalashnikov, snickering and stepping in the name of scene stealing to the funniest thing he's done since he dropped that meta line in his 'Expendables 3' highlight ("what did they finally get you for?" That look in those eyes. "TAX EVASION!"). Now the jokes are on those who thought they couldn't come again. When you think of garbage, you don't need to think of this sequel. Now how's that for a round trip for Eddie who says a third jaunt to America could be coming a sweet sixteen years later when he's 75? Zamunda Forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Coming To America', 'Dolemite Is My Name', 'Black Panther'.